List of CBP Callsigns?

[CqDx]

I remember somewhere on the web, there's a list of "common" CBP callsigns, like Charlie is for communications..etc. Can anyone help me dig up that list please

Thanks

 

[SCANdal]

Partial thanks to Scanner Master

CqDx,

Alpha ICE Investigations
B Headquarters units
Charlie Communications
Delta Port Headquarters
Echo Border Patrol Task Force
F
G
H
Idaho Outside agency aircraft
India Field Operations
Juliet Operation Orion narcotics teams
Kilo Coast Guard Intelligence
K9 Canine units
Lima Aviation Section personnel
Mike Marine Operations
N
Omaha Aviation Section aircraft
Oscar Alcohol Tobbaco Firearms and Explosives Task Force
P
Q
Romeo CBP Field Office
Salem Aviation Section
Sierra Internal Affairs
StingRay Helicopters
Tango Task Forces (i.e. Project Alliance TF)
U
V
W
X-Ray Temporary call sign(s)
Y
Zulu Special Assignments

SCANdal

 

[sflmonitor]

Here is an updated list:

A-ICE Investigations
B-HQ
C-Communications
D-Port HQ
I-Field Operations
K-K9
L-Aviation Personnel
M-Marine Ops
O-Aircraft
R-CBP Field Ofcs
T-Task Force
X- Temp Call Sign

There are other subcriber agencies such as:
ATF
Charlie Golf-Coast Guard
DEA
DOD
FDA
FEMA
NOAA
NPS
USDA
VA

 

[SCANdal]

Customs and Border Protection

Adjustments made.

 

[CqDx]

Thanks...yesterday I heard "PA42XX" cleared JFK, so I was just trying to find out what unit was it

 

[sflmonitor]

I believe that Papa units may be IRS. But I've never heard of PA. Most callsigns on the CBP network have a number (Region), Letter (Department/Agency) and a 3 or 4 number individual unit identifier, i.e. 4A2199 would be an ICE agent "A" in the southeast region "4".

 

[d_strong]

Cqdx

What frequency did you hear PA42XX use when leaving JFK.Thanks 73s d_strong.

 

[freqhopping]

A callsign heard in the Washington, D.C area is "Thor". The comms have always been with "Charlie". The CBP used to be responsible for air interdiction around D.C., now the duty of the Coast Guard. CBP had a few Blackhawk helos and a Cessna Citation all of which went by "Omaha-#"

 

[CqDx]

What frequency did you hear PA42XX use when leaving JFK.Thanks 73s d_strong.

It was 169.4125, in PL 100.0

But as you know with most fed stuff, comms are rare and precious

 

[APX8000]

I believe that Papa units may be IRS. But I've never heard of PA. Most callsigns on the CBP network have a number (Region), Letter (Department/Agency) and a 3 or 4 number individual unit identifier, i.e. 4A2199 would be an ICE agent "A" in the southeast region "4".

That was changed. When units call C100 or Sector, the callsign now begins with the two-letter state appreviation of where they are assigned. This is so more call signs could become available. So the PA was probably a unit from Pennsylvania, most likey Philly based on the numbers.

 

[sflmonitor]

That was changed. When units call C100 or Sector, the callsign now begins with the two-letter state appreviation of where they are assigned. This is so more call signs could become available. So the PA was probably a unit from Pennsylvania, most likey Philly based on the numbers.

I stand corrected, e911god is correct. I did some reasearch on this and it appears that this change officilally took effect as of early Nov 2006. Thanks for the update.

 

[Gilligan]

This kind of callsign info should go into the wiki...

 

[sflmonitor]

That was changed. When units call C100 or Sector, the callsign now begins with the two-letter state appreviation of where they are assigned. This is so more call signs could become available. So the PA was probably a unit from Pennsylvania, most likey Philly based on the numbers.

Follow up on this topic: Users of the CBP network in Florida are not always using the FL designator since the radio operators can ID them on their consoles. This is only for Florida users. I'm guessing it's because the NLECC is in Orlando, FL.

 

[SCANdal]

This kind of callsign info should go into the wiki...

Before it goes in, it should be clarified...

The old Customs Service ID system consisted of:

# (Sector number, 1 thru 8) + Letter (unit type from list above) + # or ## (office number) + ## (specific unit number)

What does the new Customs and Border Protection ID system consist of? Postal Service state abbreviation (see http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/zcl_0_landing_state.htm ) plus what?

SCANdal

 

[sflmonitor]

Before it goes in, it should be clarified...

The old Customs Service ID system consisted of:

# (Sector number, 1 thru 8) + Letter (unit type from list above) + # or ## (office number) + ## (specific unit number)

What does the new Customs and Border Protection ID system consist of? Postal Service state abbreviation (see http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/zcl_0_landing_state.htm ) plus what?

SCANdal

I verified that the rest remains the same. Only the region number was dropped and replaced by state abbreviation.

As a side note, as most of you know, the Federeal Protective Service is now part of DHS ICE. Although they generally use their UHF system, they may be heard on the VHF CBP system with a letter identifier of P(Paul). Rumor has it that they are going to be working closely with ICE Deportation Officers so they may be heard more often on VHF.

 

[APX8000]

The old Customs Service ID system consisted of:

# (Sector number, 1 thru 8) + Letter (unit type from list above) + # or ## (office number) + ## (specific unit number)

What does the new Customs and Border Protection ID system consist of? Postal Service state abbreviation (see http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/zcl_0_landing_state.htm ) plus what?

SCANdal

SCANdal...

Just drop the Geographic Code and add the state abbreviation. So 4A179 would now be FL-A179. 4 used to stand for Southeast, A is still Investigations (now called ICE) and a 100 series used to indicate Miami. Now you can have a GA-A179 and a FL-A179. Under the new system, the more location codes will become available since they become specific to a state instead of a region.

Users of the CBP network in Florida are not always using the FL designator since the radio operators can ID them on their consoles. This is only for Florida users. I'm guessing it's because the NLECC is in Orlando, FL.

Yes and No. All the repeaters or NET channels are linked to Sector A.K.A "Charlie 100" in Orlando, FL via tie-line. When a user keys up he may hit one tower or multiple towers. In Florida, yes, mostly likely a Miami user will hit a Miami tower. In places like NY and NJ, a mobile user may hit multiple towers, so C-100 may not know if it's a user from NY or NJ unless they specify their geographic code under the new system. Under the old system, you could tell the difference by the location code after the alphabetic code. For example, Customs Inspector in NYwas 2I101 and one at Newark was 2I501. The 4 and 5 differentiated the unit so they could drop the 2. However, if the NY Inspector went TDY to Florida for example, they would then add the 2, otherwise C-100 may think he was someone from Miami, who are allocated 2's in the location code. Under the new system, the more location codes will become available since they become specific to a state instead of a region. Hope this helps.

Additionally, users transmit MDC-1200 which is decoded on the console.

 

[APX8000]

The Organzation Codes for the NLECC are as follows:

ALPHA = ICE Investigators (Legacy Customs Agents). It only applies to Special Agents, not Detention and Removal Officers. They (DRO) are still using Legacy INS repeaters for the most part. They may come up on Sector NET's, but I've never heard them.

BRAVO= Headquarters. " Bravo 1" would be the Commissior of CBP

CHARLIE=Communictions. Charlie units are referred to as TCO's or Tactical Communications Officers. They work on all repeater site, conduct site acquistion, progamming, etc. They are also armed since they go to roofs and mountain tops in many remote and urban areas. "Charlie 100" is SECTOR communications in Orlando, FL. "100" signifies a Base.

DELTA=Port Headquarters

INDIA=CBP Officers (Legacy Customs Inspectors)
KILO=CBP K-9 Officers (Legacy Customs Canine Enforcement Officers)
LIMA=CBP Aviation Personnel
MIKE=CBP Marine Vessels
OMAHA=CBP Aviation Aircraft. "Hammer" is the AMO Headquarters in Riverside, CA. They are usually on HF, but do come up on VHF NET's every so often.
ROMEO=CMC (Customs Management Center)
SIERRA=used to be Legacy Customs OI Internal Affairs, but I believe ICE and CBP have separate OI's now, so I don't know.
TANGO=Task Force Officers

You will also hear several other users on the system like:
"Charlie Golf" = Coast Guard, FDA, ATF, etc. Some have call signs like ATF I heard is Whiskey (how appropriate), but I've only heard them say ATF.

Hope this helps.

 

[sflmonitor]

DRO Officers are "Golf" on the CBP system. The Legacy Customs OI is now the ICE Office of Professional Regualtion (OPR). They are responsible for ICE and CBP internal investigations. I believe that they are still assigned the "Sierra" callsigns.

 

[APX8000]

Gotcha...ICE OPR is SIERRA and handles CBP and ICE internal affairs investigations and GOLF is DRO. I'll update my notes. Thanks !

FYI...I was also recently told that NON-ICE/CBP users are no longer allocated alpha codes, they just simply state their name like "ATF."

 

[sflmonitor]

FYI...I was also recently told that NON-ICE/CBP users are no longer allocated alpha codes, they just simply state their name like "ATF."

I'll have to check on that. Most outside agencies will indeed ID with their name, but I think that there are still a couple of outside agencies that have special designators. I'll follow up later this week.